Micro-stories continue to arrive at La Voz for the XV edition of the Radio Lanzarote Summer 2025 Micro-story contest. This time the contest commemorates the centenary of the birth of the writer Carmen Martín Gaite (Salamanca 1925 - Madrid 2000).
Once again, the Tourist Centers are collaborating with the contest, which opened on July 1, 2025 and will close on August 31, both inclusive.
On this occasion, participants must submit a micro-story that must not exceed 100 words, not counting the introductory text that we will provide below. The stories will have the same beginning, a fragment from Las ataduras (1960): "The bar door opened immediately and a girl ran out, crossing her cardigan over her chest. She turned to answer the man who was running after her, reached the car and I opened the front door for her...". From this beginning, participants must imagine what happens next.
Each author may submit a maximum of five stories, which they may sign with a pseudonym, although they must always indicate a name and contact telephone number. Also, the stories will be sent to the address: concursorelatos@lanzarotemedia.net.
As the stories are received, they will be published in La Voz de Lanzarote. The name of the author will not appear in the publication. Only after the decision will the names of the winning and finalist authors be known.
A jury composed of journalists from Radio Lanzarote and La Voz de Lanzarote will choose three winning stories and seven finalists. The decision of the contest will be made public in the second half of September.
The winner of the first prize will get a Jameos Noche dinner for two people, while the second will get a dinner for two people at the Castillo de San José. Finally, the third place winner will enjoy an Unusual Experience for two people.
Story 44) Untitled
[...]
The wind that came in through the window smelled of farewell. They got off at Jameos del Agua, even the albino crabs were sad. Andrea's letter would fly at another time. On the way to the airport it started to rain, even the clouds cry for you. She gave an ineffable laugh, they sealed their goodbye with a kiss without tomorrow.
Story 45) It will be late
[...]
She agreed, perplexed, admiring the Thelma and Louise convertible Ford in front of her. She would have seen the movie about 15 times.
She needs to escape, it's been a while. Now, free, wild and with a stranger. She trembles, sweats, feels fear and desire. Brown skin and fleshy lips. She can't pronounce a word. A screeching halt, she feels his hand on her leg and his demanding lips kiss with fervor, their tongues intertwine. She gets wet. She sees nothing, she has a blindfold on.
Suddenly she locates the words of the man from the bar, a foreigner in a Ford, watching.
She knows, she's with him.
Story 46) Kleptomania
[...]
“Débora?!” As she sat in the passenger seat, she threw a cardboard box that seemed to ooze raspberry jam into the back seat. I accelerated to get away from the place as soon as possible.
She was back to her old ways... Although I knew she was a kleptomaniac since she was little, I had no way to help her... And the worst thing... I knew that in the cardboard box there was no raspberry cake...
She had stolen another heart!
However, I didn't worry too much, because I have always resided, and continue to reside, in the area of "Friends without the right to rub".
Story 47) Untitled
[...]
-Thank you -she murmured, trembling.
The man approached, furious. He hit the hood. -Don't take her! You don't know who I am!
I looked at him in the rearview mirror, without blinking.
-That's precisely why.
I started the car. In the seat, she was crying silently. In the trunk, her passport, some clothes and a ticket to Lisbon. We had everything. We just needed to live.
Story 48) Blind date
[...]
...I deduced, I am very intuitive, that the romantic date had skidded. Unease invaded me and I couldn't help but ask.
-How did everything go?
-What do you think?- The man answered sullenly.- Here, the lady doesn't like sirloin, or red wine,...
-Here, the gentleman.- She continued, wrapping herself even more in her cardigan.- is afraid to pay half the bill and leave a tip.
Miserly.
-Smarty. Next time I'll take you to a bird feeder.
-Rude.
And, to my amazement,...
...they gave each other the most passionate kiss I have ever seen in my life.
Story 49) Bad milk
[...]
As soon as he came in we left...
-What happened now?
-They wanted to scam me again... I asked the waiter for a coffee with milk. I asked him if it was cow's milk and he said yes... And then I catch him taking it out of a cardboard box! What did you want me to do!?
-Tell me you haven't killed anyone this time.
-I couldn't help it. You know how I get when they want to deceive me...
Story 50) Sunset
[...]
However, she passed by... And kept running... Trying to leave behind everything that tied her to this city... and to this life... "This gray life, this life of darkness, this shitty life", as she always said. And she kept running, towards the horizon, as if longing to reach the last glow of the sunset...
And at a broken traffic light, she finally found the light...
Story 51) I'm staying
[...]
Readers expect her to get in the car, I'm sure. The vast majority bet that they think she is in danger. A small part understands that the one who flees is not always the good one.
Fleeing is good for us, but staying makes us look at life well.
Understand why we are there and why those people are there too.
For this time she is not going to get in.
Story 52) I'm Curtis
[...]
The birds sang melodiously from the tree next to my window. They intended to encourage me, I know, just like the blue sky and the sun that prompted me to take a long shower of water, preferably cold, only then would I get her out of my head for a while.
Elena. She is not a particularly beautiful woman, nor am I, we are... ordinary people, and we love each other. Her hand brushed mine as I opened the car door for her.
-I'll drive, boy.- She said.
That same dawn we loved each other... and now she called me boy. I'm Curtis and you're my love.
Story 53) Alina
[...]
With a certain contempt for my professional gesture, she opened the back and took a seat, closing the door with a brusque movement.
—Start please!– she demanded without looking at me. —Quickly!
I started the engine and the taximeter, without hurrying too much.
—Where are we going?— I asked
—To Salamanca, my name is Alina and I have an appointment with a lady named Carmen Martín Gaite, who claims to be able to change my story and I want to check it, even if only to eliminate from it the jerk we just left behind.
I calculated the fare and smiled thinking that that lunatic would save my day.
Story 54) Joy
[...]
The trade winds were sneaking through the window, near Timanfaya. She said I'm here on vacation with my friend Carlos and his wife Lucía. And I no longer know who I am, to which he replied with a whisper: - you, you Agustina de Aragón. Alegría laughed and fell asleep.
Story 55) Mom is not here
[...]
Her eyes are already forbidden entry to my moments of laughter and games, to the premiere of a new dress, to combing my hair, to crying if I burn myself. Mom is not here, I don't see her. The music doesn't touch my fingers, my walk has become sad, ugly, I don't understand the things I don't believe.
And the two of them watch over me, my brothers, the oldest and the youngest.
I get in the car in silence and sit down. They also miss the curls of her hair and the smell of her memory.
Story 56) The tired soul
[...]
However, she passed by... Again...
How difficult it is to catch love... But I don't lose faith...
And here I am... with the door open and the soul tired…
Story 57) Untimely phobias
[...]
-I'm sorry. You are very kind. You seem like a good guy... But I suffer from acute claustrophobia. I can't stand being in an enclosed place for even a few seconds. I've been living on the street for years... Why don't you come out and we'll take a walk in the park?
-Well, I'm sorry too... What an embarrassing situation. I like you a lot but I suffer from agoraphobia. I've been living in my car for years...
And this story missed a beautiful love story…